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Friday, September 19, 2014

Poetry Friday is Here - and a Healing Poem Too

is here today!

Goodbye

Photo by Amy LV

Students - This poem is for anyone who needs it. I was not sure whether to write about the bowl of gorgeous tomatoes on our table or about all of the people I know who are somehow suffering right now, suffering with different sadnesses. I needed to write about the second thing, about how helpful it can be to find other people who have been through what we are going through, no matter what our struggles may be.

Whenever I need help with a hard time, I always turn to family and poems, friends and books. I try to be a helpful friend, too, and sometimes I am...and sometimes, without meaning to, I say the wrong things. When that happens, I can only try again. That is all any one of us can do, our very best, every day, knowing the path is sometimes steep but that kind others have gone before.

Sometimes, even if you are not going through a tough time yourself, you feel what others are feeling. You, too, can write about those feelings. It helps.

Language-wise, you will notice that this poem has some rhymes and some repetition too. What do you notice about the rhyme? What do you notice about the repetition?

Now...let's celebrate! It is Poetry Friday, and once every few months, I am allowed to host the guests. All through today, I will update this space with news from the Kidlitosphere: original poems and ideas, classroom stories and new books, favorite poems and found treasures. All are invited to leave links to poetry posts in the comments, and I will add them below .

The Roundup!

At TeacherDance, Linda celebrates the Cybils' judge announcements along with a memory of a small lovely moment of summer.

Douglas offers an original poem about gravity, taken from the newly published GUYS READ: TRUE STORIES, edited by Jon Scieszka. Find this poem at the Florian Cafe.

It's Homecoming season and Laura's daughter's going to her first high school dance. Should she wear a dress or push the envelope and go in a tux? At Author Amok, Laura's post about HS dances and challenging norms features Sue Ellen Thompson's poem "The Paper Dress."

Bridget at wee words for wee ones has an original poem, "Real Estate on the Web," about the importance of truth in advertising when selling a "home."

At Susan Taylor Brown, Susan is in with an original poem, "Celebrate With Me," which is modeled on a Lucile Clifton poem and has become her personal anthem.

Inspired by Renee's poem at No Water River last week, Laura does something she rarely does: shares a poem written for a family member. You can read her poem for Maddie at Writing the World for Kids.

Over at Dori Reads, Doraine shares one of her favorite Lucille Clifton poems, "blessing the boats."

At Hope is the Word, Amy shares Longfellow's "A Psalm of Life" along with some thoughts about her family's discussion and study.

At Musings, Joyce shares a visit with poet, storyteller, and national treasure, Ashley Bryan.

JoAnn begins a new series of posts about creativity with a sympathetic note to herself and anyone else who might need it. Today's post at Teaching Authors includes a wonderful Ted Kooser poem about creativity.

Anastasia offers VOICES FROM THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon over at Booktalking.

I'll take your poem like a hug for today Amy. Some days, words like that are very good to read and hear! Thanks much for hosting with your lovely poem. I'm celebrating the Cybils' judge announcements today, & a memory of a small lovely moment of summer. http://www.teacherdance.org/2014/09/poetry-friday-exciting-week.html

Enjoyed your tender poem, Amy. On a lighter note, and heavier, I've got a poem about Gravity over at the Florian Cafe, taken from the newly published Guys Read: True Stories, edited by Jon Scieszka. http://floriancafe.blogspot.com/

Good morning, Amy! Your poem is a great reminder that none of us is alone in the things we are struggling through.

It's Homecoming season and my daughter's going to her first high school dance. Should she wear a dress or push the envelope and go in a tux? My post about HS dances and challenging norms features Sue Ellen Thompson's poem "The Paper Dress."

"Someone will listen to my words." Wow! So important and beautiful, Amy. Thanks you for your poem and for hosting. =)Today I have an original poem, "Real Estate on the Web" about the importance of truth in advertising when selling a "home" (tongue in cheek): http://weewordsforweeones.blogspot.com/2014/09/real-estate-on-web.html

Oh my. That is so lovely, Amy. I have been both the person looking for the person further along the path and that further-along person in different situations, and it is a healing relationship--from both sides. Thanks for sharing this poem!

And inspired by Renee's sharing her poem about her sons last week, I did something I rarely do: share a poem written for a family member: http://www.laurasalas.com/blog/books/maddie-can-be-pf/

Amy, I feel the poem you wrote is for Emily. I will share it with her when I see her today at the funeral home. I also have a bag from Healing House to give her. I hope these small gestures will help her through this tough time. I ordered the books you recommended and gave you a little thanks on my blog. Emily is an artist in the fine art talent program so I think Emily's Blue Period will resonate with her. Thanks again. My post is an invitation to Carol's Summer Serenity Gallery. http://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/summer-serenity/

Whether it's true or not, you wrote that poem especially for me = more tears

No matter what, thank you for its beautiful simplicity. I will take it with me to the CFR retreat and share it with the 14 breast cancer survivors there who are on an uphill path. I'll try to read it without crying.

Thank you for the lovely heartfelt poem. It reminds me that sometimes those who are grieving can offer the most comfort to the people around them, but most important is the reminder that we are not alone in our sadness.

At Alphabet Soup, a little birthday celebration for Cornelius Bear with poems and cookies:

What a wonderful gift you've given hurting people with that poem, Amy! My post celebrates Carol Varsalona's Summer Serenity Gallery and a poem I have in it. http://hollymueller.blogspot.com/2014/09/poetry-friday.html

Amy, today your poem brought a sensitivity that I will be able to share with those in need. I thought of Margaret's Emily and how your simple words might support her at this time knowing that there are someones farther along the uphill path that continue to climb. I then thought of another family who is grieving over the loss of their son. Sorrow is such a heavy burden.

Today I am revisiting the excitement and joy I felt all week as I read and reread poems from the Summer Serenity Gallery I launched. I am touched that Margaret and Holly mentioned the gallery in their comments and that there offering leads others there. My post revolves around summer serenity and the last bit of it that can be savored in the month of September. I added a glorious picture of Aspen that my daughter took while vacationing there and a poem by Helen Hunt Jackson since I am fond of 19th Century poetry. May your last days of summer be glorious.

Amy, what a lovely, lovely poem. I would share it with anyone, everyone. We all need your poem from time to time. After a long break I am happy to be back at the Poetry Friday table with, you may laugh, a poem about tomatoes. Thanks for hosting! Liz http://elizabethsteinglass.com/2014/09/poetry-from-the-garden/

Amy, your poem captures so well the solitary feeling of sadness. The repetition of "Someone" in the last stanza drives home the idea that we don't have to be alone in sorrow, that Someone can be there for us. Thank you for sharing and for hosting. over at Musings, I share a visit with poet and storyteller Ashley Bryan -Someone who is a national treasure.http://www.joyceray.blogspot.com

Your poem struck a chord with me, too, Amy--so many people around us are struggling right now. On the Teaching Authors blog, I started a new series of posts about creativity with a sympathetic note to myself and anyone else who might need to hear it. I've also included a wonderful poem about creativity by Ted Kooser.

Beautiful words of comfort, Amy! Thank you for sharing and for hosting Poetry Friday. I am uber late but I suppose that's what happens when you work two jobs. Anyway, I was up for posting last Friday at GatheringBooks and I have Walt Whitman and the sky for my poetry offering. It's called "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer. Hope you had a great weekend!

Hi Amy,I am subbing today. One of the 5th grade boys came in after learning his dog had been hit by a car early this morning. So I was so glad I just found your poem.I gave it to a teaher who is friends with the family to share with him after school. I think it is a great thing for teachers to have on hand and such tender wisdom. I have been "away" and missing so much on Poetry Friday. Glad to be able to connect. I read a poem of yours that is in a children's magazine (you posted on FB) and I loved it. You have such a gift for finding the "right word" for the "right place". Can't wait to see your new books. I think it is a nice goal for kids to think that some day they can be "Someone" for another in need.Janet F.

Welcome

I'm Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, and I've been sharing poems and lessons here since March 2010. The Poem Farm is a safe place for students to explore poems, and it's a place for teachers to find poetry teaching ideas. I post on Fridays during the school year (every day of April!), and I welcome you to make yourself cozy here among the words.

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Heartbroken

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I adore visiting schools near and far, joyfully sharing writing in large groups and writing together in small groups. If you wish to learn more about this, please visit my website at the tab above.

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Sometimes, my good friend Barry and I collaborate on a song. We did so this summer, with this poem I wrote in 2016. It is wonderful to have a friend with whom you can share words and music... Click the poem to be taken to the song.

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Nonfiction

Orchard/Scholastic, 2016

First Book

Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013

Co-Author Of

With Lucy Calkins & Stephanie Parsons Heinemann 2013

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